NJ business lawyers

Published on: June 8, 2026

McLaughlin & Nardi, LLC Named to New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 100 List

McLaughlin & Nardi, LLC is pleased to announce that Maurice McLaughlin was named to the “Top 100: New Jersey Super Lawyers” list in the 2026 edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers*. Maurice has been included on the Super Lawyers list since 2012 before being named to the Top 100 list this year. In addition, Pauline Young was included on the New Jersey Super Lawyers list from 2020-2025. law-firm-2-300x184

Super Lawyers’ selection criteria is as follows. “Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in selecting a lawyer, we limit the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public… The final published list represents the top 5 percent of lawyers in the state. The lists are published annually in state and regional editions of Super Lawyers magazines and in inserts and special advertising sections in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers. All attorneys selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers, regardless of year, can be found on SuperLawyers.com.”

Maurice, with Frank Nardi, founded the law firm in 2002, and practices in employment, commercial and construction litigation. He is also a mediator appointed by the Superior Court to mediate civil litigation. Maurice is the author of the book New Jersey Public Employment Law published by Gann Law Books, now in its 14^th edition. Maurice is admitted to the state bars in New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, and the United States Supreme Court.

Published on: April 21, 2026

New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act Does Not Apply to Architects, Appeals Court Says’

by Maurice W. McLaughlin

Under New Jersey construction law, the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act applies to most residential and commercial construction projects. It is applicable to contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. However, a New Jersey Appeals Court held in a recent decision that architects are not subject to the Consumer Fraud Act because of the “learned professional” exemption.

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Background

The Borough of Caldwell contracted with Cozzarelli Cirminiello Architects, LLC for architectural services including design, construction and rehabilitation of Borough-owned facilities. CCA’s invoices were approved by municipal officials before being submitted to and approved by the Council before they were paid. After a new Council was elected, the Borough terminated its contracts with CCA. Caldwell then sued CCA in the Law Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Essex County for breach of contract, unjust enrichment and violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Caldwell claimed that CCA failed to perform its services, failed to produce “products,” failed to support the Borough on construction bids, failed to produce construction documents, double billed the Borough, and billed it above the agreed upon rate.

Published on: December 28, 2016

The Consequences of “Liars Loans”

by Maurice W. McLaughlin

keys-1317391__340-300x279 Our transactional attorneys handle many types of commercial and real estate transactions, from closings on homes, office buildings, factories, to commercial transactions including the sale of all or part of a business. The overwhelming majority of these transactions require the purchaser to take out a loan to finance the purchase. Whether a buyer qualifies for the loan is one of the main contingencies in the transactions.

In many instances the purchasers will have already obtained financing before they talk to us about the transaction. However, once we are involved in the transaction one of the things we stress most, based on long experience, is that the application for the loan must be one hundred percent honest. Anything less than perfect honesty with the bank is a crime. The days when “Liars Loans” was acceptable are now over – in fact, that day existed only in fiction. Our transactional attorneys’ extensive experience in New Jersey real estate and business transactions has convinced us that honesty with the bank is the only way to go.

Federal law makes it a felony to “execute a scheme… to defraud a financial institution.” More particularly, the federal statute states that: